Forum | Close, but no cigar...

I've been turkey hunting off and on since theTennessee Opener.  With the exception of the first morning, I haven't seen a single tom while hunting.  To say it's been disheartening would be an understatement!

But all that changed today on the way home from church.  Normally, I watch the fields where I hunt, only to be disappointed not seeing any birds, but today, there were four turkeys feeding along the edge of the field, and one looked to have a red head! 

So Janet and I beat feet home, I threw on a camo jacket and hat, grabbed my shotgun and back we went, this time with Janet driving.  She slowed down and I slipped out, then she slowly resumed her way down the road.  While she was continuing down the road, I crept up and along the edge of the field, keeping the thin screen of trees between me and where I last saw the birds.

Finally, about 30 yards away, I saw movement and the first bird fed into view, a hen!  Then another, and another, and finally, I saw the fourth bird, and I didn't see a red head!  But I also couldn't see the chest of any of the birds, so I couldn't tell if one of them was a jake.  (Which at this stage of the game, I would have gladly taken!)

I tried in vain to stifle a cough and finally, I let loose a squeek!  That was all it took to spook the birds.  As the last one turned to run, I saw a short beard, but he was surrounded by hens which I couldn't shoot.

They stayed in the field, I stuck to the woods and ran along and soon caught them.  But the tom was still right in the middle of the other hens and they all walked across the field, never giving me a decent shot.

Oh well, at least I can now say I SAW a tom…